Australia orders recall of 2.3 million vehicles with Takata air bags

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia has ordered the recall of 2.3 million vehicles fitted with Takata Corp air bags that have been linked to deaths worldwide, in the country’s biggest compulsory product recall.

The manufacturers of the vehicles will have to pay for the replacement air bags, that have been linked to at least 18 deaths and 180 injuries globally because the inflators can rupture and shoot metal fragments into vehicles.

The air bags must be replaced by Dec. 31, 2020 or the manufacturers will face fines of A$1.1 million ($857,000) per breach of the order, said Michael Sukkar, assistant minister to the treasurer.

“Tragically there’s been one death and one case of serious injury in Australia as a result of the deployment of these air bags, and the government just doesn’t want to see any more,” Sukkar told reporters in Canberra, Australia’s capital.

FILE PHOTO: A sign with the Takata logo is seen outside the Takata Corporation building in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S., May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo